Bash script, watch folder, execute command

Question

I am trying to create a bash script with 2 parameters:

• a directory
• a command.

I want to watch the

Answer 1

I can’t believe nobody posted this yet.

First make sure inotify-tools are installed.

Then use them like this:

logOfChanges="/tmp/changes.log.csv" # Set your file name here.

# Lock and load
inotifywait -mrcq $DIR > "$logOfChanges" &
IN_PID=$$

# Do your stuff here
...

# Kill and analyze
kill $IN_PID
cat "$logOfChanges" | while read entry; do
   # Split your CSV, but beware that file names may contain spaces too.
   # Just look up how to parse CSV with bash. :)
   path=... 
   event=...
   ...  # Other stuff like time stamps?
   # Depending on the event…
   case "$event" in
     SOME_EVENT) myHandlingCode path ;;
     ...
     *) myDefaultHandlingCode path ;;
done

Alternatively, using --format instead of -c on inotifywait would be an idea.

Just man inotifywait and man inotifywatch for more infos.